A massive gas explosion sent flames soaring over a Matthews neighborhood Wednesday afternoon, damaging homes and triggering a huge emergency response involving nearly 100 firefighters.
The explosion happened near Pleasant Plains Road and Morningwood Drive after a contractor drilling and setting poles reportedly struck a natural gas line around 11:55 a.m.
According to Matthews Fire & EMS, the leak ignited shortly after crews arrived, escalating into a dangerous fire that burned for more than an hour.
The Charlotte Fire Department HazMat team responded alongside Union County agencies and Piedmont Natural Gas crews.
Officials say two homes were heavily damaged, but no residents were inside at the time. No civilian injuries have been reported.
Several firefighters experienced heat-related issues but are expected to recover.
Fire officials intentionally allowed the flames to continue burning while crews worked to shut off the gas flow. Authorities said extinguishing the fire too early could have allowed explosive gas to spread through the neighborhood.
Firefighters instead focused on protecting surrounding homes while Piedmont Natural Gas crews located and shut down the damaged line.
The incident also caused power outages for nearby Duke Energy customers.
Authorities say crews will remain on scene as cleanup and damage assessments continue.
